Reform will continue to be a priority

Supply-side reforms will continue to be a priority to improve the quality of the economy, and more attention will be paid to cutting overcapacity and fending off financial risks in the property market, according to leading economists.

Liang Hong, chief economist at China International Capital Corp, saw positive prospects for the near-term outlook in the light of February's factory growth data which beat market expectations.

She cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics, where the Purchasing Managers' Index registered 51.6 in February - a reading above 50 suggests expansion while one below indicates contraction.